It is predicted that in 2020 there will be billions of heterogeneous devices relying on cellular networks for data exchanges. The capabilities offered by fourth generation (4G) networks, currently being deployed worldwide, where each device is capable of achieving data rates from the order of hundreds Mbps to several Gbps, will not be enough to service the projected amount of connected devices. Furthermore, it is expected a ten to thousand-fold increase in number of devices and traffic volume in 2020.

To be able to address such an unprecedented challenge, we should explore all the frontiers of human knowledge and potential technologies. This is the motivation that envisions the fifth generation (5G) communication networks. To support challenging massive and high-speed connections in 5G networks, different design principles have been widely discussed. In addition to the spectrum efficiency, network/energy efficiency, information management, universal service and user experiences should be jointly optimized, which will lead to a variety of solutions. Considering the limited time left to tackle these critical 2020 challenges, it is now time to move forward.

The purpose of this special session is to bring together state-of-the-art technologies, research activities (both in academia and industry), and the corresponding standardization impacts, so to understand the requirements and the promising technical options towards the realization of the 5G networks.